Skate Society sets skate jam in Medina, eyes finishing touches to new park

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2022 at 9:55 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Luke Nelson Skatepark opened on Sept. 4 in Medina at Butts Park.

MEDINA – A group of volunteers that spearheaded construction of a new $550,000 skate park in medina is looking to put finishing touches at the site.

That includes a mural that depicts the Canal Culvert. It will go on one of the features at the skate park that resembles the culvert.

Terri Nelson is mother of the late Luke Nelson. The skate park is named in his honor. Nelson met with the Medina Village Board last week and received approval to work with an artist on the mural, with DPW superintendent Jason Watts having input on the type of paint.

Nelson also wants to have a bench at the park, a garden area and a display noting key donors to the project.

Nelson first became involved at the site because she wanted a memorial bench for her son by the old skate park. But the idea mobilized the Medina Skate Society to push for a full upgrade of the site. The previous skate park was on a former tennis court. That surface had cracks and the equipment was getting obsolete.

The Medina Skate Society lined up nearly $550,000 to build the new site at Butts Park. That includes $250,570 raised through local fundraisers and donations. That allowed the Skate Society to maximize a $250,000 matching grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

The Skate Society also was awarded $42,000 for an Environmental Impact Award grant by The Skatepark Project, formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation. The $42,000 is used for storm water management and bioswales.

Nelson said the Skate Society is planning a June 18 skate jam and proceeds will go towards safety equipment – helmets and pads. The Society also wants to offer lessons on skateboarding and using scooters.

A motorcycle run on July 16 will also support projects at the skate park, Nelson said.

She thanked the board and the contributors who have made the park possible.

“We’re just overwhelmed by all of the community support,” she said.